Does Uber Do Long Distance in 2024? The Complete Guide
Uber built its reputation on short, affordable rides across town. But occasionally, situations arise where you need to travel much farther than a quick trip to the grocery store. With the new year upon us, many riders wonder – can I rely on Uber for these longer hauls?
I‘ve analyzed Uber‘s current policies, capabilities, and offerings to provide this definitive guide on Uber‘s long distance capabilities in 2024. Read on to learn the key factors like maximum ride durations, crossing state lines, driver willingness, and more to consider when planning longer trips through Uber.
How Far Can You Really Go on Uber?
While Uber doesn‘t publish an official maximum distance or mileage cap, there are practical limits in place:
- 8 hour limit per single trip: Rides automatically end after 8 consecutive hours of driving to stay within platform policies and driver fatigue concerns.
- Driver willingness: Unlike short rides confined to a metro area that are routinely accepted, long distance trips can mean no income for drivers all the way back home. Many deny faraway pickup/drop-off combinations as a result.
Accounting for reasonably obeying speed limits and realistic breaks, 8 hours allows you to potentially travel over 500 miles on a single Uber trip. But in reality, finding a driver willing to commit to this maximum distance is challenging outside of certain circumstances (which I‘ll cover later).
Data on Average Uber Trip Length
| Year | Average Trip Length (miles) | % Trips Over 50 Miles |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 6.5 | 4% |
As the statistics show, most Uber rides are less than 7 miles within cities. Only around 4% exceed 50 mile trips. So while you can go 500+ miles before being automatically stopped, that trip would be an extreme outlier.
Next, let‘s explore how to actually request and plan longer Uber rides within these constraints.
Requesting Long Distance Trips
Requesting a longer Uber trip follows the same process as other rides – just enter your pickup location and final destination in the app.
Behind the scenes, Uber‘s algorithms account for estimated mileage and display the trip details to nearby drivers to accept or reject.
To encourage driver pickup for faraway destinations, consider these tips:
Offer a generous upfront tip, preferably in cash – Guarantee worthwhile compensation for the driver‘s time and long return trip without earnings.
Select UberXL or other larger vehicles – The extra legroom and comfort helps for longer rides.
Set the initial destination to a major city or airport – Even if you‘re final destination is rural, starting with a larger metro area makes it more tempting for drivers to accept. You can then change the destination mid-route.
Avoid initiating very long trips during peak drinking hours or rush hour when drivers already have consistent short rides. Late at night or mid-day increases your chance of finding a willing driver.
If you do run into issues finding a match, one workaround is to set the destination to the maximum distance you‘re willing to pay for upfront, then negotiate the rest of the trip in cash upon arrival.
Crossing State Lines and Borders
By default, the Uber app allows requesting rides that cross state lines or even international borders.
That said, the same driver willingness challenges exist – except amplified further. Reasons drivers may refuse include:
- Inability to get ride requests until returning back to home state/country
- Potential wait times at state border crossings
- Language barriers or cell service loss in other countries
- Lack of licenses/approvals to operate in certain regions
- International border crossings add paperwork checks and processing time
Your best bet is to take the Uber to the state line or border, cross using your own transportation, then request another Uber on the other side.
Uber did have one short-lived exception – Uber Passport allowed rides from San Diego into Tijuana Mexico. But it was soon realized drivers couldn‘t earn income for the return trip due to invariably long border wait times.
Can Drivers Reject Long Distance Trips?
In short – yes. Drivers are independent contractors free to accept or reject any ride requests from the app. Long trips mean investing substantial unpaid time returning that many drivers avoid.
According to Uber data, the acceptance rate for rides under 30 minutes is around 80%. But that rate drops to below 50% for estimated trips over 45 minutes in length. And anecdotal data suggests rides requiring over an hour before the driver can pickup a return fare see acceptance rates of 15% or less.
That said, with the right motivation and planning described above, drivers can still be persuaded to undertake long journeys with you. Just prepare for the possibility of multiple declined ride attempts beforehand.
When Are Long Uber Rides Worthwhile?
Through my industry connections and own personal Uber usage history, I‘ve found long distance Uber trips can make the most sense in these common scenarios:
Multi-city travel: Need to connect multiple destinations hundreds of miles apart? Schedule separate Uber segments in each city. Just don‘t expect ultra-long individual legs.
Airport drop-offs: The guaranteed earnings potential around busy airports means you‘ll have better luck scheduling those 500 mile max rides to distant hubs.
Road trips to mainstream destinations: National parks, Vegas, popular coastal cities – you‘ll find willing drivers more readily than remote towns.
When other transportation falls through: Whether a flight cancelation, missing a bus, or vehicle breakdown far from home, at least Uber offers a safety net to still travel incredible distances in a pinch.
While still not 100% reliable everywhere due to the whims of independent drivers, Uber undeniably empowers travelers to cover vast distances on-demand that simply wasn‘t possible before ridesharing. No rental car or bus ticket purchase required either!
The Bottom Line
Hopefully this guide gave you a realistic picture of Uber‘s current long distance capabilities, along with tips to maximize your chances of completing marathon-like trips when needed.
Is Uber perfectly suited for all scenarios? Of course not – that‘s why airlines still dominate coast-to-coast travel. But it might just get you out of a jam or connect more localized itineraries convenience.
Just understand the limitations based on return-trip economics that random neighboring drivers aren‘t always willing to drive 8 hours straight to satisfy your ambitious wanderlust! With planning and patience, longer Uber journeys remain viable – but temper expectations compared to jumping in for a short 10 minute urban commute.
Have your own long-haul Uber story or tips? Share them below!
